Buyer's guide
Alternatives to scaffolding: what works, and when
Scaffolding is not the only way to work at height. For some jobs a mobile tower, a cherry picker or rope access is quicker and cheaper. For others, cutting corners on access costs more in the end. This guide, from a working scaffolding contractor, compares the options honestly.
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The short answer
- Short, light jobs at one spot, such as cleaning a gutter or replacing a single window, can often be done from a mobile tower or cherry picker.
- Jobs that last more than a few days, cover a whole elevation or involve heavy materials usually need a scaffold.
- Roof work almost always needs a scaffold with edge protection at the eaves, because the main risk is falling off the roof edge.
- Where the ground cannot be used, a truss-out or suspended scaffold may replace a standard scaffold rather than avoid one.
- The cheapest access option for one day can be the most expensive over a job that runs for weeks.
Mobile access towers
A mobile tower is a lightweight aluminium frame on wheels, built to a set height with a platform and guardrails at the top. It suits short jobs on firm, level ground: painting a soffit, fixing a gutter, replacing a light fitting.
Towers are quick to put up and move along an elevation, but they have limits. They need level, firm ground, they cannot be used on soft gardens or slopes without care, the platform is small and they are not designed to carry roof tiles or blocks. They also do not provide edge protection at a roof edge.
Cherry pickers and mobile elevating work platforms
A cherry picker (or MEWP) lifts one or two people in a basket to the work. It is useful for quick inspections, short repairs and jobs on tall buildings where the work is in one or two places.
They need space to stand and somewhere suitable to set the outriggers, which is often the problem on a residential street or a back garden. They are usually hired by the day, so they become expensive when a job takes a week or more. And they move one or two people, not a team of trades with materials.
Ladders and roof ladders
Ladders are for short-duration, low-risk tasks. A roof ladder can give access for a quick inspection or replacing a couple of tiles. They are not a substitute for a working platform when the job takes more than a short time or involves carrying materials, and most reputable roofers will not do full roof work from them.
Rope access
Rope access technicians work on ropes suspended from above. It is used for inspections, cleaning and light repairs on tall buildings and structures where other access is hard. It needs trained, certified operatives and secure anchor points, and it suits light, specialist tasks rather than building work.
Chimney and roof access systems
There are proprietary systems designed to give access to a chimney or roof without a full scaffold from the ground, such as roof-mounted platforms and chimney access frames. They can suit a quick chimney job on some roofs. They depend on the roof being able to take the load, and they do not give edge protection along the whole eaves for wider roof work.
For full re-roofs and most chimney rebuilds, a scaffold with a stack-level platform is still the standard approach.
Truss-outs, cantilevers and suspended scaffolds
When the problem is the ground rather than the scaffold, the answer is often a different kind of scaffold. A truss-out scaffold is supported from inside the building, so the pavement or shopfront below stays clear. A suspended scaffold is hung from the structure above. Both need a design, but they keep the safety and working space of a scaffold where ground access is not possible.
Which option suits which job
| Job | Usually suits |
|---|---|
| Clear a gutter or repaint a soffit at one spot | Mobile tower or cherry picker |
| Quick roof or chimney inspection | Cherry picker, roof ladder or drone survey |
| Re-roof or roof strip | Scaffold with edge protection, plus temporary roof if needed |
| Chimney rebuild or repointing | Scaffold with a stack-level platform |
| Render, paint or brickwork across an elevation | Scaffold |
| Loft conversion or extension | Scaffold, adapted as the build progresses |
| Work above a busy pavement or open shop | Truss-out, cantilever or suspended scaffold |
| Light inspection or cleaning on a tall building | Rope access or cherry picker |
When scaffolding is still the right choice
In those cases, the daily cost of a cherry picker, or the time lost moving a tower, usually makes a scaffold the better value. Our scaffolding hire costs guide explains how scaffold prices are worked out.
- The work lasts more than a few days.
- Several trades need access at the same time.
- Materials such as tiles, blocks or render need to be stored at height.
- The work is on or near a roof edge.
- The whole elevation, or several elevations, need access.
- The roof will be open and needs a temporary roof to keep the weather out.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest alternative to scaffolding?+
For a short job at one spot, a mobile tower or a ladder is usually the cheapest. For anything that takes more than a few days or covers a whole elevation, a scaffold is often better value overall.
Can a roof be replaced without scaffolding?+
Full roof replacement is normally done from a scaffold with edge protection at the eaves, because the main risk is falling from the roof edge. Small repairs can sometimes be done from a cherry picker or roof ladder.
Is a cherry picker cheaper than scaffolding?+
For one or two days, it can be. Cherry pickers are usually hired by the day, so for longer jobs a scaffold is normally cheaper.
Can chimney work be done without scaffolding?+
Some quick chimney jobs can be done from a cherry picker or a roof-mounted access system. Rebuilds and major repairs usually need a scaffold with a platform at stack level.
What if there is no room for a scaffold on the ground?+
A truss-out scaffold supported from inside the building, or a suspended scaffold hung from above, can give scaffold access without using the ground below.
Not sure whether your job needs a scaffold? Tell us what the work is and we will give you an honest answer, even if that answer is that you do not need us.
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